Coal-cutting machine



(No Model.)

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GOAL CUTTING MACHINE.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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0. O. PALMER. GOAL CUTTING MACHINE.

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UNiTnD STATES PATENT Erica.

CHARLES O. PALMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COAL-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,898, dated December 7, 189'?.

Application iiled February 28, 1896. Serial No. 581,159. (No model.)

To au whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES O. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coal-Cutting Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates more especially to that class of coal-cutters having a horizontal arm with a horizontally-revolving cutter-chain on its periphery and whose direction Vof feed when operating is parallel to the working face of the coal.

The object of the invention is to produce a icoal-cutter adapted to operate in the room system of mining where there is a low bad roof requiring props close to the working face of the coal, a combination of circumstances most adverse to the use of the coal-cutters now on the market.

The invention consists, substantially, of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts intended to compact, simplify, and strengthen the mining-machine as well as to facilitate the operation and management of the same, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure 1 is a plan of the machine embodying my present improvements with certain of the top parts broken away. Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the dotdash line A B of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a top view of the track-rail. Fig. 5 is a top view of the track-chair with the end of the track attached thereto. Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the socket, the rail, andthe chair. Fig. 7 is a diagram of the end of the mine-room,illus trating the mode of operating the coal-cutter inthe room system of mining. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the reaction of the coal against the cutters in the ordinary straight-arm coalcutter. Fig. 9 is a diagramA showing thereactions of the coal against the cutters in my improved form of coal-cutter. Fig. l0 is a diagram showing the reaction of the coal against the cutters in my preferred form of cutter-arm. Fig. 11 is a drawing showing an serrated floor. Fig. l2 is adetail of the handcrank for operating the feeding mechanism. Fig. 13 is a detail. showing the tiltinglevelingshoe.

In Fig. 8,which representsa coal-cutter arm mounted on a truck and supported on a track in the ordinary manner, a outter-arm of the ordinary type is shown, carrying a cutter-chain which projects underneath the coal and is held in the machine-frame in the usual way. The machine is adapted to be operated by a rope from a motor around the pulley d6. The center of reaction of the coal against the cutters is at the point fw, the direction of reaction, as shown by the arrow 107, being at angle w,with a normal w w, to the cutting-surface at the point 1U. The reacting force thus found intersects the outer rail of the track at fm2 outside the Wheel-base of the track-wheels 104. The iiange w3 of the nearest track-wheel is therefore called on to resist an unduly large force and has caused the adoption of a very heavy machine and an inordinately long wheel-base to keep the machine in its proper place on the track. This not only makes it cumbersome in long wall Work, but makes it entirely too long for its adoption on the room system of Working,which will be hereinafter explained. In Figs. S, 9, and l0 the sprocket-wheels at the extremities of the cutter-arm are each drawn in the same relative position to each other and to the machine.

In Fig. 9 is shown the same machine as in Fig. 8, except that the cutter-arm is bowed outward on the cutting side. The face being operated on by the cutters is thus rotated about the point x2 through the angle w8, and consequently the arrow wg, representing the new resultant of the reaction, is rotated an equal amount. The resultant is thus made alternative mode of placing the track on the IOO tersects the outer rail at a point still farther to the right. This still more nearly equalizes the pressure of the two resisting-wheels on the track than in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 1 is seen a large horizontal turretring c5,with a worin-wheel housing c5 and with laterallyprojecting lugs c on the exterior thereof and provided with an interior flange c4 on its lower edge. Passing around and bolted to the extremities of said lugs cG and forming three sides of a rectangle is the framebar c7. By making the side of a separate piece from the turret-rin g and casting straight headless lugs on the ring the casting in steel of the ring is very materially simplified, besides allowing ot a thinner material in the frame-bar c7 than is practicable in a strong steel casting of one piece. Attached to the frame-bar c7 at its right-hand corner is the track-shoe c2, and to the left-hand corner is the track-shoe c3, said track-shoes forming the two rear supports of the machine. For the purpose of guiding the machine on the track the trackshoes c: and c3 are furnished with downwardlyprojecting lian ges m7 and x8, which engage the top of the rail on either side, and for preventing the machine from tiltingoiiC the track each track-shoe has a clip Q05, sliding in a groove in the top surface thereof. Said clip m5 has a hook-shaped end that engages under the top liange of the rail and is held in place by the screw at, which passes through a slotted hole in the clip and is screwed into a tapped hole in the shoe. When it is desired to lift the machine from the track, the screw w is loosened and the clip is slid forward sufficient to -disengage it from the flange of the track.

This feature is also referred to in my application, Serial No. 508,022, tiled April 18, 1894, aid my Patent No. 472,177, dated April 5, 1 92.

Situated under the turret-ring c5 and bearing loosely on the under surface of its bottom flange c4 is the cutter-arm e. Secured to the upper side of the cutter-arm e by the'bolts-CZ3 and journaled in the turret-ring c5 is the wormwheel e', which rests on the interior Harige c4 vand acts as a journal for the cutter-arm e.

Engaging with the worin-wheel e is the turret-worm e3, which reaches through a hole in the side of and is situated in the housing e8 on the exterior of turret-ring c5. -By having the worm-wheel within the turret-ring the height is reduced to a minimum, the worinwheel teeth are protected from dust and injury from contact with external objects, and the rotary force is applied in a most direct manner-i'. c., between the ends of the bearing.

The cutter-arm e has a bow-shaped contour on its cutting side, and around its periphery revolves the cutter-chain h, carrying the cutters k2 for operating on the coal. In the space between the sides of the arm lie the lateral braces 7i', and at its extremities are placed the sprocket-wheels 7a2 and e9, that engage the cutter-chain h. The idler sprocket-wheel h2, at

the outer extremity of cutter-arm e, is journaled on pin h3, between the sprocket-wheel plates 714, in a well-known manner. The plates 7i are secured together by the countersunk bolts h5, that screw into the distance-pieces h6. Said plates h4 slide longitudinally between gibs formed by the chain-guide plates hs and is pressed outwardly against the cutter-chain 7L by means of the adjusting-screw 717, which passes through the outer distancepiece 7i and screws into the brace 7L' of the cutter-arm e.

Tapped vertically through the hub g on the lateral brace 7L nearest the turret is the leveling-screw y. The lower end vof levelingscrew g rests in'a cavity in the top of leveling-shoe g4 and is prevented from dropping down when the machine is lifted by the countersunk screw g3, which passes loosely up through the shoe g4 and is tapped in to the lend4 of the leveling-screw g. The leveling-shoe g4 is prevented from turning by the pin g2, which passes down through a hole in the lateral brace and is secured in the top of said leveling-shoe. This shoe g4 is thus allowed a universal movement which enables it to accommodate itself to the irregularities ot' the iioor. It is thus always made to lie flat on the lioor and never gouge or sink into the somewhat soft floor by resting on a sinallspot only near the outer edge, as it sometimes does when the screw and shoe are made in one piece or secured rigidly together. The purpose of the leveling-screw is to adjust and maintain the cutter-arm at the required height to suit the irregularities of the iloor under the machine.

The part of the cutter-arm which enters the kerf has riveted to its upper and lower surfaces and projecting somewhat beyond its periphery the chain-guide plates ha, each having a liange 7L on its inner side.

Secured to the cutter-arm near the center ot turret-ring c5 and rigid therewith is the vertical pulley-stud 19, on which revolves the pulle y-pinion (Z5, having an upwardly-projecting shank, on which is secured by key c or otherwise the driving-pulley d6. Journaled within worm wheel c' and movable therewith is sprocket-wheel shaft d2, and secured on its upper end also within the turret-ring is the intermediate gear e2, that engages with pulley-pinion (Z5. Secured on the lower end of shaft cl2 is sprocket-wheel e9, that drives the cutter-chain 7i. In my former application for a mining-machine, Serial No. 508,022, tiled April 1S, 1894, the reduction gearing was above the machine and unprotected; but by this construction the height otl the machine is much reduced and the gears protected.

Passing through the frame-bar c7 and j ournaled in the housing cS at its opposite end is the rotary-feed shaft q, on which is splined the turret-worm c3. Keyed to shaft q is the rotary-feed worin-wheel q2, which is driven by the rotar Y-feed worin q. Passing vertically through and splined in the worm @Gand journaled in the worm-bracket q is the rotary- IOO IIO

feed worm-stud g4, having a square shank on its upper end for receiving the hand-crank g8, by which it is operated.

On the outside of the frame-bar c7 and fitting loosely around the feed-shaft q is the feed-chain sprocket-wheel t, Whose shank eX- tends through and is journaled in said framebar c7. By journaling the sprocket-Wheel if upon shaft q a long bearing is secured for shaft q and a long support for the sprocketwheel t to prevent it bending on its journal..

This also makes a very compact arrangement and does not require the further Widening of the machine-frame. Secured on l'the outside of the shank of sprocket-wheel t, by the screw 154 or otherwise, is the chain-feed worm-wheel 253, that is operated by the chain-feed worm t6. Passing vertically through and splin ed in the Worm-wheel t3 and journaled in the wormbracket q is the chain-feed Worm-stud f7, having a square shank on its upper end for. receivin g the hand-crank g8, by which it is operated. The worm-bracket q' is secured to the frame-bar c7 by bolts, as shown.

In my previous application, Serial No. 508,022, filed April 18, 1894, I have shown a mining-machine adapted to out a groove in the floor by means of a router, and in said groove 'sets the track-flan ge; but by my present invention I have succeeded in simplifying the machine by doing away with said router entirely. This I accomplish by sloping the cutter-arm e, as shown in Fig. 3, so

that the inner end (which is to the right) is.

on a level with the floor at the working face of the coal, While the other end is somewhat above it. The floor is thus cut in serrations that extend across the room parallel to the line of travel of the machine. The flanges of the track-chairs -y4 are made to butt against the sides 'g5 of the floor, as shown in Figs. 1l and 6.

The track y in my preferred form consists of an angle y2, placed horizontally, with the fiange toward the working face. An angle ya has one leg riveted to said flange and the other leg extending horizontally a little above the angle y2. To the track are bolted supporting-chairs g4 at intervals along its length. In my former construction (shown in application, Serial No. 508,022, led April 18, 1894) the track was placed directly on the floor; but the floor was not always smooth nor free from dirt, so that sometimes the support was not under the track-jacks. This caused a distortion of the rail, which I now avoid by supporting the track on chairs placed directly under the track-jacks.'

To facilitate laying the track, the railjoints are made at the chairs. Attached to the under side of the end of one rail is the chair g4, having a vertical socket ys through its top side, as shown in Fig. 3. v In the end of the abutting rail is also a vertical socket @/7, which registers with the aforesaid socket in the chair and when in position forms one continuous hole, through which passes the boss on the shoe y of the track-jack 'ywhen the ends of the rails are abutting. ferent sections of the track are thus held securely together, as well as tightly to the fioor, by the jacks @/6, which press iirmlydownward and do not require the use of any loose wedges or bolts, which are continually being misplaced and lost, besides requiring time for their insertion and removal. The upper end of said jacks y are slanted backward to more effectually resist the thrust of the machine due to the reaction of the coal against the cutters. The tendency of the jack yi to push forward the track y is resisted by the riser g5 of the floor-serration, against which the ange of the chair if is made to press. Passing over the feed sprocket-wheel t and under the idler sprocket-wheels t' and f8 on each side is the feed-chain ,c4,which is secured to brackets z, that are hooked to each end of the track. A modified form of my track-supportis shown in Fig. 1l, in which the chair is placed at the top instead ofthe bottom of the floor-riser g5.

To operate the machine in a mine worked by the room system, the track y is placed in position across the room and held in place by the jacks @/6, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. The machine is placed on the track in the position shown in solid lines on the left side of the room, the cutter-arm being 'on the left of the machine. The machine is then hooked The difon the track y by the track-shoe clips m5, the

track-brackets c', hooked on the ends of the track, the hauling-chain Z4, passed around the sprocket-wheels t, t', and 258, and the height of the cutter-arm adjusted by the levelingscrew g. A driving-rope from an electric or other motor is passed around the driving-pulley cl, and the machine is started. The power is conveyed from pulley d6 through gear d5, gear e2, shaft d2 to the sprocket-wheel e9, that drives the cutter-chain h on the periphery of the cutter-arm e.

One hand-crank g8 is placed on the rotaryfeed Worm-stud g4, and by operating through worm Q6, Worm-wheel q2, shaft q, Worm e3, and Worm-wheel c the cutter-arm e, bolted thereto, is given a slow rotary motion around the turret-ring c5. Another hand-crank g8 is placed on the chain-feed worm-stud t7, and by operating through worm-wheel t6, worm- Wheel f3, sprocket-Wheel f, and chain .c4 the machine is fed slowly along the track.

By a prearranged system of successive alternate revolutions of studs g4 and f7 the machine is given a translation on the track toward the left and the cutter-arm e the requisite amount of revolution to the right. The sprocket-wheel h2 at the extremity of said cutter-arm is made to assume the successive positions shown in Fig. 7 and marked 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th It is then in the same angular position as shown in Fig. l, or in dotted lines in the middle position of Fig. '7. The chain feed only is now operated through the stud t7 and the machine traverses across the room, the said wheel h? occupying IOO successively the positions marked 5th and 6th, the machine-frame in the meantime having reached its extreme position on the right end of the track. The straight or chain feed is then stopped and the rotary feed is again operated through the stud Q4 until the cutter-arm assumes the position shown in dot- -ted lines on the right and wheel h2 has reached its seventh position. The undercut is now completed, and the arm e is then swung around to the starting position on the left of the machine, the driving-rope disconnected, the track-clamps m5 unhooked, the machine loaded on its truck and carried to another room, the track removed to one side, and the coal brought down in the usual manner.

I have not herein claimed, broadly, the particular construction of the turret worm- Wheel shown in the accompanying drawings, nor of the machine track shoes and clips, nor or" the mode of interlocking the jack-shoes and vertical sockets, as they form part of my Patent No. 472,177, granted April 5, 1 892, and of my application, Serial No. 508,022, tiled April 18, 1804. Neither have I shown mechanism for driving or regulating the tension on the driving-rope, as it may be of the kind mentioned in my patent for driving mechanism, No. 472,178, dated April 5, 1892, or my patent for a mining-machine, No. 472,177, granted April 5, 1892, or of any other kind known to the art, and does not form part of this invention.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination in a mining-machine of the machine-frame having a turret-ring formed on its forward end, worm-wheel e mounted in said ring, cutter-arm e secured to said worm-wheel, together with the engaging gears d5 and c2 suitably supported within said turret-ring, and forming with pulley d and sprocket-wheel e9 a continuous drivingtrain, means for turning said pulley and supporting and moving said machine to its work.

2. In a coal-cutting machine, the combination with the driving mechanism, of the cutterarm pivoted to, and radially movable with, said driving mechanism; an adjustingscrew g, with a suitable bearing therefor in the rearward portion of said arm, and the tilting leveling-shoe g4 resting on the floor of the mine, and lexible connections between said shoe and the adj usting-screw g.

3. The combination in a coal-cutter of a horizontal turret-rin g, lugs on the periphery thereof, a frame-bar extending around and attached to the ends of said lugs, track-shoes attached to the sides of said frame-bar and resting on the track, a cutter-arm journaled within said ring and carrying a turret worm- Wheel thereon, a supporting-shoe under the cutter-arm, a worm journaled on its shaft and engaging said worm-wheel, a sprocket-wheel mounted on said shaft and in said frame-bar, a worm-wheel secured to said sprocket-wheel, a worm engaging said sprocket worm-Wheel, a chain engaging said sprocket-wheel and attached to a stationary object, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a coal-cutter track composed of a horizontal web, having a flange or bulb on one edge thereof, a vertical flange on the other, and an angle-iron secured to said vertical flange, of a track-chair having a vertical orifice therein supporting the end of said track, a similar abutting rail resting upon said chair, and having a vertical socket in said chair and a jack having aboss on its lower end ittn g said registering sockets and holding the rails together and to the floor, for the purpose herein shown.

5. The combination with a coalcutter adapted to cut a serrated floor, of a machinetrack therefor 'supported on chairs resting upon said floor and abutting against the riser of the floor, and a jack resting on the track and inclined backward from the workin g face, substantially as shown and described.

6. The combination with a serrated floor, of a coal-cutter track composed of an angle y2, and angle y, riveted to its iiange and projecting outward above said angle y2, trackchairs k1/4 secured under said angle y2 and abutting the riser g5 of the serrated fioor, substantially as described.

7. The combination in a coal-cutter of a horizontal turret-ring, headless lugs on the periphery thereof, a framebar extending around, and attached to, the ends of said lugs, a swinging cutter-arm pivoted in said ring, coal-cuttin g apparatus mounted on said rotary arm, suitable supports carrying said frame and arm, together with means for driving said cutting mechanism and feeding the same to its work, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES O. PALMER.

Witnesses:

J. H. VAN DERVEER, W. L. Comns.

lOO 

